The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-19
GOV. BODWELL's STUB PEN.
Did Mr.. Blaine Tell Him to Use it on tn
Quack Doctor Billa


A Portland Me-, dispatch to the New
York World says:
The Maine Medical Association, which has
been in session here, has taken up for dis
cussion the veto of what is called the
"Quack Doctor BILL" which was killed at
the last session of the Legislature by Gov.
BodweH. For several years the physicians
in this State have been trying to have a
law passed requiring all doctors to furnish
diplomas of graduation from some medical
institution, and then be registered. At the
last session of the Legislature the Medi-
cal Association succeeded in getting the bill
through, and then committee of the physi-
clans called on Gov. Bodwell and asked him
if he would sign it. He replied that he had
himself long been of the opinion that a law
should be passed to shut out quack S and
herb doctors from practising in Maine.
Gov Bodwell said that he would sign the
bill, which he did, and sent it to the Secre-
tary of State. The bill had not
been in the Secretary's office more
than twenty-four hours when some
body noticed that the signature of the
Governor had been erased by drawing
coarse stub pen through it. A number of
well-known medical men who were in
Augusta called on Gov. Bodwell to ask
what it meant. In reply he simply said that
ne had signed the bill and then on second
thought recalled it from the Secretary and
vetoed it, They asked him why he did this
after assuring them that he thoroughly IA
vored the bill, and received no answer ex-
cept that on mature consideration he had
concluded to erase his name. This killed the
bill, and the document is now to be seen at
the State House with the name 81. R. Bod
welln written in bold hand and black pen
mark through it.
The members of the medical profession
were highly indignant and began an investi
cation to ascertain why the Governor
changed his mind. Upon inquiry it was
found that the ''Quack Doctors. bill came
up while Mr.. Blaine was away from home
for day or two. When he returned to
Augusta and read in the Kennebec Journal
the report of the doings of the Legislature
he saw that the Registration bill had passed
both houses and had gone to the Governor.
He at once sent for Gov. Bodwell and told
him that he must not sign the bill.
A Portland physician, who carefully in
vestigated the matter, told the correspon-
dent that he knew the following converse
ton then took place:
But have already signed the bill, " re-
piled Gov. Bodwell.
Then take your name off from it, Mr..
Blaine said
But have sent it to the Secretary of
State and several men interested in the bill
have seen it.n
''That makes no difference You
must recall the bill and draw your pen
through it."
After some opposition to this course, Gov.
Bodwell promised to do so, and next day
sent for the bill, erased his signature and re-
turned it, vetoed.
As soon as this action was made known it
created much talk Hundreds of people
went to the State House to see if the facts
were true and to get a view OF the bill with
the erased signature appended.
As an outcome of the affair Gov. Bodwell
was severely criticized, and Mr.. Blaine has
earned the title of Governor" Among the
physicians and the Democrats he is known
as Governor" Blaine.
The correspondent who was recently in
Augusta saw the famous bill with the erased
signature and met Gov. Bodwell. In answer
to the question as to why he signed the bill
and then vetoed it he said:
After siguing the bill | was called upon
by several gentlemen who expressed strong
disapproval of the act, and | concluded to
change my action"
The reason given for Mr. Blaine's anxiety
to have the bill killed is said to be that 1t
would personally affect him. As is already
well known, he is in the habit of having
treatment. This doctor lives in Boston, but
is not graduate of any medical institution
within the meaning of the Registration act,
which so narrowly escaped becoming law.
At Mr.. Blaine's bidding he is in the habit OF
coming down from Boston and giving
the former indicated baths, and what Mr..
Blaine calls ''rubbings" Had the law passed
it would have shut him out from practising
III Maine and would deprive Mr. Blaine OF
the treatment. For these reasons, it is said
on good authority, Mr.. Blaine induced Gov.
Bodwell to veto the bill His influence
with the Governor is well known. Mr..
Blaine took an active interest in the last
election, and Bodwell was his selection for
Governor.
Since the unusual action of Gov. Bod
well in relation 10 tho "QuacE Doctor bill, ="
the medical fraternity have been bestir-
ring themselves to SEQ a way out OF the
difficulty.
Judge G. w. Goddard. prominent Port,
land lawyer, and also Professor OF Medical
Jurisprudence in Bowdoin College, was en-
gagged as counsel, and expressed the opinion
that the bill had become law the instant
the signature of the Governor was append
ed. When the bill left his bands 1t was a
law, Judge Goddard holds, and neither Coy.
Bodwell nor anybody e.se could affect us
validity Ivy drawing pen through tne
signature. At the instance or the MAINE
Medical Association, Judge Goddard went
TO Augusta to investigate the Legislative rec
ords, and found that the bill he'd been en-
tered officially as approved and then an
leraslue had been made. The Following Is
the evidence of the mutilation of the state
records: Toward the latter part OF the
hook, Immediately after the line devoted 70
VII No. 52i, appears an erasure apparently
lade bv a shnrp knife leaving the figure